Season Synopsis:The 1978 season was filled with high expectations. In October of 1977, Corps Director Tom Jakmides was featured in a drum corps publication discussing the 1978 corps, revealing “that the corps will compete in ‘Open’ class in 1978, and has announced an extensive recruiting program that will, he said, ‘make it harder to be a member of the Bluecoats in 1978.’ ” Open Class today is called World Class. The Bluecoats switched to run with the “big boys” now. The plans were for one tour to the “Eastern states to test themselves against the top Eastern corps” and a similar Midwestern tour. The corps also planned to field a winter guard that had already begun rehearsals by the time of publication. Jakmides admitted the corps “will probably lose a lot of competitions” since they were aiming at higher competition. Tougher and longer rehearsals were planned, “promising the staff no rest whatsoever, and programmed an unrelenting” season where the corps would be “no place for anyone who isn’t rawhide tough, dedicated, dedicated and dedicated.” The article concluded that over 30 applications had been received for tryouts. Jakmides challenged the corps “to become the first Ohio corps to reach the DCI Finals.” While the corps finished in 28th place, in DCI Prelims the percussion program scored high with an 18th place finish in the Percussion Analysis sub caption.

Note: this 1978 Tour Schedule was created from corps archives records printed January 3, 1978 as the tentative tour schedule. It is not known how many of these shows the corps actually attended where there are no scores shown below. Dates shown with ** were additions to this schedule at a later time.

this 1978 Tour Schedule was created from corps archives records printed January 3, 1978 as the tentative tour schedule. It is not known how many of these shows the corps actually attended where there are no scores shown below. Dates shown with+ were additions to this schedule at a later time.

To see the placements and scores of all corps at a show listed with (*)click herethen scroll to the date and location of the show.

Date

Show

Place

Score

May 27

Trenton, MI (Great Lakes)

Jun 10

Appleton, WI + *

1st

52.40

Jun 11

West Allis, WI + *

1st

52.25

Jun 17

Canton, Illinois (Mid-America)

Jun 18

Geneseo, Illinois (Mid-America)

note: the tentative schedule had “or” for the weekend of June 17 and June 18.
Alumni memories have the corps traveling to Pennsylvania and not Illinois